Omaha daily bee., 1887-05-03
CHRISTIAN YOUNG MEN,
The Annual Report of Their Association
Shows Progress.
THE NEW HOTEL PROJECT.
Fircmen Get Hot and the lnvestiga-
tion Asked for-Model Residences
Contracted TO be Built at
Oncc-City Parliament.
THE NEW HOTEL PROJECT.
Annual Report of the Y. NJ. G. A.

Another year has passed away and we
feel glad when called upon to give an ac-
count of our stewardship. How well our
talents have been used may be seen BY
careful pcrusal of this brief report
The good Lord of the harvest has seen
fit to shower abundant blessings upon
our labors and to Him we lift our hearts
and voices in praise.
This has been by all odds the most pros
porous year in the history of our associa.
ton. Each year we grow in knowledge
of the work, as well as in more practical
methods of how to carry it on.
The greatest step in advance was prob
ably taken when the Sunday afternoon
gospel service (mixcd) was changed on
January to meeting for young men
only. Long we had contemplated max
ing this change, but never saw the way
clearly until the above date. Since then
there has been decided Improvement,
there being much more freedom on part
of the young men and more positive de-
cisions to lead Christian lives.
workers and training class has been
established and promises to be one of the
leading features of the work In this
class are taught methods of doing Chris
tan work, how to deal Individually with
inquirers, and Il bird 's-eye view of the
Bible rs a whole, also of the different
books therein.
In the boys department many
bright, active lads have been
enlisted, and some of the older
ones have become regular attendants at
the religious and literary meetings. We
have great faith in the boys and re alize
that IN the near future our most earnest
workers will be graduates from the boys
branch.
Literary and social work that was sls-
pended for Il time for lack of room has
been resumed, special arrangements
having been made to close the gymna-
SUM on the evenings the meetings occur.
These meetings are held on Tuesday
evening of each week. A programme of
literary and musical exercises is pre-
pared and at the intermission the social
element is cultivated. Large numbers of
strangers attend and an effort is made to
see that they all become acquainted with
the workers and are made to feel at
home. Under the head of literary exer-
clses are given essays, debates, readings,
recltations, general talks, character
sketches, cOnverSatiOnals, methods of
conducting business. or organizing COM
panies, etc.
The rooms of the association are kept
open each week day from 8 Il. m. to l2
m, from 2 to $50 p. M, and from to 10
in the evening. On Sunday from 3 to 6
y. m. There is goodly supply of pa
pers and magazines on file in the read
ing room, and q number of games of
skill are almost constantly in use in the
parlor.
Through the kindness of our lady
friends our rooms have been covered
with velvet and brussels. The ladies
have also furnished us with provisions
for several sociables and suppers.
On New Years day members of the
association, aided by lady friends, kept
open house, and large number of
young men called.
The Daily press-Nonpareil, Globe
and Herald, of this city, and
BEE and World of Omaha have aided us
materially by publishing free notices of
our meetings and by donating their pub
lications. Some of the best scientific
and religious publishers have also sent us
regularly free copies of their papers.
Never have our citizens contributed so
liberally to the support of the work as
they have this year. More than $4,000
have been wisely spent. This money
did not come in without earnest sollcita.
ton but when men have been approached
in manly way and asked to contribute
the majority have willingly done so. Our
| aim has been to do q work that the peO-
| pie will approve and we know that the
money will come when asked for. To
our contributors we desire to express our
| thanks and at the same time to ask them
| to continue in we'll doing.
The secretary has kept on hand a list
of good rooms for rent and suitable
| boarding places for young men, and has
| gwen information of this kind to thirty
two persons. Employment has been Sc
cured for eleven young men. Some of
these have been sent to positions of con-
siderable responsibility.
| In summing up results we would say
that the religious department has been
we'll sustained and has produced excellent
| fruit Fifteen young men have decided to
lead christian lives and in the workers a
marked development can be seen. The
young mems meetings on Sunday after.
moons at O'Clock are meetings of spiritual
power.
Socially we are reaching a multitude
of young men whose keen intellects be
speak for them future of promise, and
they are taking hold with vim thai
means success.
Our great need now is building. Il
we had a thoroughly equipped home Of
our own with plenty of room and attrac
tiOns this organization would be of un
told benefit TO the city in q financial al
we'll as in a moral point of view.
Plans are now being LAID which WI
hope will develop into a substantial
brick or stone structure. Such build
ing should cost not less than $25, 900.
that amount is secured in the next year, i
means that some must give largely ant
that all, friends and well wishers, as vel
as the members of the association, mus
60 down deep into their pockets and hell
all they are able. Our prayer now i
that the Lord will open the hearts ant
pocketbooks of our benevolent, philan
throplc and public spirited citizens an,
cause them to bring forth the accumula
ted treasures of ages, or inspire them t
write checks payable to the treasurer O
the association. Such building mus
be erected before we are fully prepare
to do the great work in this field ant
before the officers and managers will b
content.
STATISTICS.
| Membership active e......................
Associate and gymnasium. l.
Total Observation-Disclosures. X